Optoma ML550Portable LED Projector

Highly portable. The ML550 measures 1.5" x 4.1" x 4.2" (HWD), and it weighs just 0.9 pounds by itself. Packed in the soft carrying case it comes with, along with the power block, power cord, remote, and combination VGA and audio out adaptor, the weight tops out at a still highly portable 2.3 pounds. Also adding to its portability is that it can read photo, video, audio, and Microsoft Office files directly from a USB memory key, microSD card, or internal memory, so you don't have to carry anything else with you. And the HDMI port lets you show images from any phone or tablet that supports MHL.

Low running costs. Optoma rates the LEDs in the ML550 at 20,000 hours, which means you should never have to buy replacements.

Test Results

Brightness. I measured the ML550 at 414 lumens in its brightest predefined image mode and at 260 to 312 lumens in other modes. That makes the projector bright enough for extended viewing with a 48" diagonal image with moderate ambient light, or for a somewhat larger image for short sessions or dimmer lighting. I also measured a difference between white brightness and color brightness in Bright mode but not Cinema mode, which explains why Cinema mode offers the best color quality.

Good brightness uniformity. The projector did a good job maintaining uniform brightness, at 80% uniformity. You can see the difference with a solid color screen, but not with text, graphics, or video on screen to break up the image.

Reader Comments(7 comments)

Posted Nov 19, 2016 9:56 AM

By Ron

These are cross-branded... ACER seems to be the originator - it's identical to the K series... in this case a K135. Acer spec's theirs at 600 lumens, but other than that, it's the same beat... different skin. Look at all of the physical aspects... connectors, card slot, IR sensor, cooling openings, lens, etc. I have the K132 which is why I recognized it.

It would be interesting to know who actually makes these... when I mod'd my Acer (to get direct audio output), I saw no names internally.

Posted Nov 15, 2016 4:46 PM

By xxx

Posted Feb 24, 2015 2:45 AM

By JD55555

Have a problem with my Optoma ML550. The projector work great when directly connected to different sources with HDMI - roku, HTPC, PS2, chromecast. However, when an HDMI switch is used, no video is displayed by the projector. A TV connected with the same cables, works perfectly. I've tried 3 different HDMI switches, including a powered J-Tech "matrix" one. I've swapped all the HDMI cables and tested with the projector AND the TV. TV works, projector doesn't.

It is not an HDCP issue - I've seen the "non-compliant hardware" warning from the roku connected to a computer monitor. That isn't it.

Swapping the HDMI cable to use another device is getting old.

Does anyone have an HDMI switch that actually works with the Optoma ML550 projector?

Posted Jan 10, 2014 5:30 PM

By Nabi

You've got to watch the claims of long LED lamp life. It's more than a bit of a scam: over time the lamp gets dimmer and dimmer. On my Acer unit a note popped up on the screen at around 2000 hours advising that it would no longer produce the light necessary for bright mode and suggesting lamp replacement. It was impossible to get hold of Acer to make my complaint. The performance of that projector is now increasingly wishy-washy so I'd suggest you view LED projectors as primarily good for portability particularly as more conventional projectors have lamps that last over 4000 hours now.

Posted Dec 30, 2013 5:33 AM

By Jeff

If the ML550 is the projector you are saying I am getting for $100 more than projector X to get 500 Lumen (and any of the other features) over the 300 or 400 lumen projector you were originally looking at.

Posted Dec 28, 2013 3:21 AM

By frank

Posted Dec 17, 2013 10:54 AM

By Tony

Why would you buy the ML550 when for $100 more you could buy the ML750?

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